Hi. I am Joy...new to the diagnosis of MS; however, funny weird stuff happening for years and "possible MS" stated over and over and over.

Used to be an avid runner...not great, just persistent. I was running 4 1/2 to 6 miles a day, and now I get so over heated if I walk 1/2 a mile, run 1/2 a mile, and walk another 1/2 a mile that my right leg begins to not cooperate with me. I would like to get back there, so I am about to begin a 5-k training plan. Determined to find a way past the leg issues.

I live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, so there is so much hiking, kayaking, biking, and beach walking to do...I just want to get the energy back to do it all.

Thanks for a wonderful message board. This is great that it is so positive and the site has so much information. Thanks for replying to my post about trekking poles on another site...otherwise I would have never found this place!

Hi my name is Adrian .. I am the pessimist in this life of MS .. I don't get excited over all the new revalations that come out , I don't often get out even though I am able , and I tend to lean on the side of caution ...

Been living with MS for 7 years now .. and can remember when 'no pain" was related to MS .. so I am sure there are plenty out there that have had some same torturous events as I ...

While I do have a sense of humor, it takes a lot to get it to come out ..

I am Sonya, live in Alabama, got dx with RRMS in Feb 08. I am married, have 2 kids, and work full time. I did go to the gym (spin, weights) last summer and now I just don't have the time or the energy. I do swim when I can. I travel a lot for work and my job and family doesn't let me get still for long. Until I over do and collapse for a few days. Or like last week, have a little trouble driving (focusing). That episode scared us a little. I was also having slurred speech. It was 6 am so I was not under the influence of anything other than coffee!!! My neuro said it was likely from old lesions acting up, as I had not probably givenmy body enough time to recover from the previous day's drive. Just wanted to say hello and I am not as active as I wanna be, but right now as active as I can be. Would love to hear if anyone else is from Alabama or close by.

My first leison appeared in 2002. I only had one and it was in my neck so they didn't call it. I was suppose to take a yearly MRI. Since last March I have been really sick. I do have fibromyalgia as well. So I kind of thought that's what was going on. After a few months I decided to get a MRI. Sure enough I had 4 new leison on my brain, however, they were not active. I am not taking any MS Medication because I'm on so many other drugs. I have been having a very hard time with heat fatigue. It makes working out very difficult. I'm not really into the pool thing. It is discouraging as I am gradually gaining weight.

I am overwhelmed with all I need to learn to take better care of myself. As I find out new info, I often realize I have been creating some of my own problems.

I have a question for everyone. When you have shared your diagnoses with friends and family members, did any of them act like you never told them anything? Just not wanting to talk about it. Almost a kind of denial.

It's good to see a group that is proactive in addressing MS. I was diagnosed in 1991, I take no medicine for MS and usually only an aspirin a day when I remember. I am now 58 and still have no visible symptoms. I haven't had a relapse in years and years.

My weight is within the normal range, my BP is 95/65, my total cholesterol is 145. I don't run because I have bad knees from my running days of my youth but I can still outrun the average women my age on a cardiovascular stress test. I do walk regularly, five times a week, lift weights, etc.

I have followed a low-fat diet for years (with some cheating) and I think this makes all of the difference in the world. I am definitely a fan of the Swank MS Diet that was developed by a professor of neurology and head of the neurology department at a medical school in Oregon. The diet does alleviate most fatigue problems and other symptoms as well. I also am a big fan of adequate Vit. B1 and D3, and fish oil and calcium supplements.

A while back I decided I wanted to be of service to others with MS so I decided to start sharing information on the importance of a healthy life cycle. This went over like a lead balloon in some circles. It seems a number of those with MS wanted to sit around, eat cheesecake and burgers, gain more and more weight, and don't mind wheel chairs. Geez, I was surprised. I felt upset too because I hate to see others get sicker unnecessarily.

Now I'm thinking that because MS is related to a lack of sunshine exposure in youth, lower levels of Vitamin D and excessive consumption of saturated fat, I should perhaps focus on trying to prevent MS in the upcoming children. Perhaps some older individuals cannot be educated because they do not want to make needed life style changes. Sad.

Hello all,
My name is Mike I live in NYC Bridget I run the park also, love it. I also run up under the GW bridge along the west side.
I was Dx'd on my 35 birthday. The Dr thought I had spinal cancer I guess this was the better of the two. I really got into the running about 2 years ago, dropped over 50lbs eating right and cardio. Some days it gets very tough but its what ya gotta do!
Thanks again Dave.

I saw the MS is BS post in another MS website and, of course, was intrigued...

I love the optimism of this site; although physically disabled from birth, I was very active before MS struck. In the 3 years it took before diagnosis, I became a couch potato (at first, I was told not to exercise [not due to poss. MS diagnosis], then I just hurt a lot and was very depressed re lack of diagnosis).

Now, I'm ready to resume active life. I do yoga 3-4 times a week and have started sailing lessons... But, I am older and it is hard to keep up the motivation some days...